Southern Cross by Windstar

Majestic. To make the situation even more complicated than it was, she had not only bonded a
year earlier than expected, but had bonded to what was essentially an experimental ship. Alpha,
which it had been called before she had bonded, was the first of the Human/Tiri built Guardian-
Class ships to be completed.
Five kilometers long, with a new experimental weapon system located in her bow, she was a ship
built for war. A hundred fighters would eventually be housed in her fighter bays, along with an
even two-dozen shuttles, and even more drop ships. It was also part of her, linked to her, bonded
to her soul. She knew every bulkhead, every circuit, every weapon, what made her; Julie had
gone through every part of her ship self during the bonding. Three fusion power plants pulsed in
her core, and the power they generated pulsed through her ship self like blood. The structural
members were her bones, the battle steel armor plating, her skin. Sensors for her eyes, and ears,
Gravitic Drives for movement, and a computer core to help her run the massive amounts of
equipment.
After the unexpected bonding, and the Bak'ra attempts at sabotage, which had occurred at the
same time, the ship had been renamed Southern Cross. Her ship self, she thought with a quick
flush of pride. Other memories competed for her attention as well, the feel of waking up after her
bonding, to find Emily nearby. Keeping watch on her after the almost disastrous bonding had
occurred. The feel of her lips pressed against her own when they had kissed, the slightly spicy
scent of the black-haired woman when she had held Julie close while they slept.
"Thinking good thoughts?"
The warm purr of Emily's voice next to her ear scent a pleasant shiver down her spine and Julie
found herself smiling as she stopped next to one of the view ports.
"Yes. Just remembering waking up holding you after the bonding."
A warm arm slipped around her waist, and despite her unease at showing public displays of
affection, Julie's body gladly relaxed backward into the strong arms that held her.
"I remember that too. Don't you dare ever scare me that much again."
They had told her that her heart had stopped twice, from the shock of her bonding being
interrupted by the explosion of thermonuclear warheads that the Bak'ra had left onboard her. It
had been a near thing, apparently, although she didn't remember a thing after turning the Bak'ra
infiltration shuttle into tiny molecules using the new gravity lance located in the hammerheadshaped
bow of her ship.
"I'll try."
A crewman passed, and despite herself, she tensed until the dark blue uniform of an Imperial
Navy member passed. The man, the slight frame and pale complexion indicating he was
probably Tiri, passed them without more than a nod of acknowledgment for the two Guardians.